New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-01-16
Of its own, and those who care for something more
than action will find much suggestion In It.

of lie own. and those who care for something moro
than action will find much suggestion in It.
Mr.. H. Rider HaguarJl calls She ~" history of
adventure, but it is clearly moro than that IL be-
longs Enthusiastically in tho category of occnlt ro-
nance. The central figure In it is a marvelousiy
beautiful woman, who has found the secret OF per-
pctual life and has lived two thousand years
secluding herself 10 Africa. while awaiting, Win
constancv as wonderful her beauty. tho re-incar
nation of lover whom she had slain in ut oil Jcai-
ousy. Living as the Qneon of q barbarous trioo OF
Africans, her empire efectually guarded oy oe'
of impassable swamps. she surf ounds herseiI WIN
mystery which awes her subjects. ana sus'"'"'"
only by Der ndomitable WILL vegetates 'iii'"e
tho centuries in n manner the contemplation OIL
which il an ytbing but agreeable. 10 ner' ny "c'i
ous woys secretly and snbtly drawn' comes 'he
ninrteenth century descendant OF the rival ior
whose spke she slew her lover the "reeK haiil-
krotes He is, as the stcry presently SHOWS ID
startling wav. the very image OF tnat long-dea"
lover and She is convinced that il is Kalkrates in
n new incarnation. Through pcrlous adventure
melted by family legend which preserves the
main points of tho ancient tragedy. young Leo
V;nccv comes into tho presence ana the power OF
She That awful creature-for woman Two 'nou-
sand wears Old however lovely. must be awful, es-
neci,llv when she wieds all the forces OF Nature
recognizes HIM, saves his life at the nick OF time'
and insists that he shall go with her TO ba'he
in the mysterious fountain of light when is tue
source of her own immortality. The journey 10 tno
fountain of light is skilfully described The author
bowevcr. makes the serious mistake OF sacrificing
his heroine to catastrophe which she certainly
would have been able to fOresce had she possessed
half the power he ascribes to her, 1t is remark
able and decidedly original catastrophe when prac-
1.,t NH la
finn speaks hiahly for Mr. Haggard's imagination,
il completely discredits his knowledge OF occultlsm
This IN truth is the defect of the story that
willie il purports to deal with occult matters there
il no esoteric kno Wedge in it. When 'ulvcr wrote
on such subjects he did ont of a full mind tie
knew his meter thoroughly and made no mistakes
either in doctrine ceremonial. But MT. Hagparu
evidently has not taken the pains to inform MIN
self. He has produced a strange creature IN Sne
but an impossible ono even from the point OF view
Of those who believe in Adopts and Mahatmss. APP
pareutly She was a " Sister of the Shadow STU
dent of black magic. But no aiepfship IN whte
magic and 10 Brotherhood of the Shadow was ever
supppsed to have been attained by snch methods as
she uses and the fount ain of light is an anomaly
which no Theosopuist would excuse. There is much
ingenuity in the general conception no doubt, AMI
il is clear that granted a woman capable of living
and retaining her beauty two thousand years, it
would be impossible for her to cherish master
passion during that vast period unless the object
of it was a spirit, or a mortal awaiting re-incar-
nation as in the story. 1t may indeed be said mat
an orthodox She" mnst have passed far beyond
the possibility of feeling such passion before SHE
conla have attained the occult powers attributed
to her and this is true but to have acted upon 1t
would have destroyed the romance OF the novel
and in fact have removed its reason for existence
The romantic. however, Is thus made to dominate
the occult in Mr. Haggards story, and the conflict
of methods produces strange solecisns. and dis
tincy detracts from the artistic value OF the book
which nevertheless well deserves to be read. For
it shows much power originality and fertility of
resource 1t has the merit of being altogether out
of the beaten track 1t is work of the magma
ton and to be jndgcd by tho canons of imaginative
art Its faults the common ones OF the time
namely. haste. imperfect preparation and conse-
ouent occasional crudities and soecis'ns The
general reader who enjoyed King Solomon's
Mines" will be well content with She" and Will
probably find in it fewer defects than we have
pointed ont Certainly it is singular and
strong story and like 4" Karma it illustrates one
of the great streams of tendency which characterize
fhS times